Montpelier Hill's Parkgate
In the heart of Dublin, a new addition to the city's skyline has been making waves. The Parkgate Student Accommodation, a shortlisted contender in the 2019 Irish Building & Design Awards, is now a beacon of modern architecture and sustainable design.
The project, managed by Cogent Associates, comprises of three separate blocks, ranging in height from three to four storeys, offering 319 bed spaces. The buildings were designed to integrate well into their Montpelier Hill context, bringing additional activity and animation into the area.
The buildings ensure a high performing building envelope, low energy emissions, and represent a more efficient use of the site. Piled foundations were used as a solution to the site's restricted access and available space, while excavation was kept to a minimum as a solution to the tight programme and site restrictions.
A 3.5m high Stresslite stone clad boundary wall was constructed along the west and north boundaries, using augured pile foundations, small concrete pile caps, and pre-cast stone clad king posts and wall panels. The superstructure of Parkgate is formed by pre-cast concrete wall panels, which were left exposed with a paint finish internally and clad externally in either brick, external wall insulation and render or zinc.
Pre-fabricated elements were used extensively in the construction of Parkgate. Pre-fabricated en suite bathroom pods by B-Pods were installed, reducing on-site building time and bringing pre-tested, high quality finished products to the site. Pre-Cast concrete wide-space floor slabs and pre-cast concrete wall panels were also used, providing a quick and efficient construction method.
The front block of Parkgate contains the student entrance, as well as the majority of indoor amenities including the Welcome Reception Area, Study Room/Classroom, Movie Screening Room, Games Space, and Gym. Precise scheduling of deliveries and the use of construction systems that enabled early enclosure of the floor plates were implemented as solutions to the tight programme and restricted site access.
A rationalization of the building finishes was also implemented as a solution to the site's restricted access and available space. The company responsible for the project management of the student housing Parkgate Montpelier Hill was Profile Projects, with Bryan O'Reilly, Micheal Carrig, Noel Walsh, and Enda Sexton leading the completion of the project under Cogent Associates. Concast provided the pre-cast concrete wide-space floor slabs and structural topping for Parkgate.
In a move that has been well received by the local community, the buildings and landscape of Parkgate Student Accommodation are considered more compatible and a more appropriate use for the site compared to previously unused light industrial buildings. The project has not only brought modern, sustainable student accommodation to Dublin but also added a touch of sophistication and style to Montpelier Hill.
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